Wedge-retaining device.



J. B. WILSON.

WEDGE RETAINING DEVICE.

APPLICATION FILED DEC.27. 1916.

1,254, 1% 1. Patented, Jan. 22, 1918.

JOHN B. WILSON, OF PASCO, WASHINGTON.

WEDGE-RETAINING DEVICE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Jan. 22, 1918.

Application filed December 27, 1916. Serial No. 139,188.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOHN B. Winsoiv, a citizen of the United States, residin at Pasco, in the county of Franklin and btate of lVashington, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Wedge-Retaining Devices, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to improvements 1n wedge retaining devices, and more particularly to devices for maintaining in proper relation the adjustable wedges commonly inserted and disposed intermediate of the axle or driving boxes and the pedestal of railroad locomotives.

The purpose of such wedges is to prevent looseness and pounding of the box within the walls of the pedestal or engine frame, which is often encountered because of the great strain due to heavy grades and curves which tends to work the wedge out of tight engagement with the box and pedestal. For this reason it is customary to provide the wedges with screw adjusting bolts by which means the wedge can be forced up in place. During a long run under adverse conditions the wedges frequently loosen up to such an extent that rattling or pounding and consequent wear and loss of power result therefrom, as the required adjustment can only be performed when the train is at a standstill. 7

The object of the present invention is to provide an adjusting means for the wedges which will automatically force and maintain the wedge in proper position, thus obviating the aforementioned radical defect in the old method of adjustment.

To this end I have provided a wedge which is adapted to be engaged at its outer projecting end portion by a spring tensioned rod disposed in substantially parallel relation to the wedge, which rod serves to exert a constant upward pressure upon the wedge to force the same into eflective engagement with the box and pedestal.

The details of construction, the arrangement and functions of the several elements comprising my device will be hereinafter more specifically pointed out and described, recourse being had to the accompanying drawings forming a part of this application, and in which- Figure 1 is a side elevation showing a portion of an engine pedestal, wheels and axles, together with two of my devices mounted in operative position between the pedestal. walls and box.

Fig. 2 is a greatly enlarged view in elevation of the device as applied, a portion of the jaws of the box, axle and guides being in section to show the arrangement of the wedge to better advantage, and

Fig. 3 is a sectional view taken on line 33 of Fig. 2.

Fig. at is a perspective view of one of the wedges illustrating the invention.

Referring specifically to the drawings in which like reference characters are used to indicate like parts in the several views, the numeral. 1 designates a portion of the pedestal or frame which is of conventional construction. The axle box is shown mounted in the usual manner within the scope of the depending pedestal walls 2 and 3, said box having mounted between its jaws f and 5 the axle 6 of the wheels 7. members 8 and 9 are interposed between said jaws and said pedestal walls, the grooves thereof engaging the latter.

The wedge 10 is inserted tightly within a recess between guide 9 and the pedestal wall 3 which recess is formed by tapering the wall as clearly shown in Fig. 2.

I have provided the projecting end or stem 10 of the wedge with a plurality of connecting holes 11 by means of which and a pin 12 or other removable fastening device the vertical rod 13 is connected 01' joined to the wedge stem the lower end of the rod being offset somewhat and provided with an eye to receive said pin. The stem 10 of the wedge is long enough to pass through an opening in the pedestal yoke, so that the bent end of the spring rod may be coupled to the perforated stem below the yoke. This rod 13 extends upward through the frame member 14 and is mounted in and supported by the eye-bearings 15 and 16 which project out from the wall 3. In order to provide an upwardly exerted tension upon the rod 13 the same is encircled by a spiral spring 17 having its lower end abutting or secured to the eye-bearing l5 and its opposite end retained by a collar 18. On the rod, which is partially threaded, and above said collar is mounted a threaded adjusting nut 19 by means of which the tension of the spring 17 may be increased or diminished. A winged emergency adjusting nut 20 is threaded upon the upper end of the rod, which nut may be employed in addition to the automatic Grooved guide spring retainer device to force the wedge into place, though its action is separate from the automatic action.

The connection or coupling between the wedge and the rod provides a simple means for properly joining the elements and, at the same time, allows for the removal of the wedge without dismantling the tensioning device. I

From the foregoing description and explanation it is apparent that I have provided a thoroughly practical and efficient device possessing decided advantages. It should be especially noted in this connection that by the novel arrangement and dis- )osition ot' the several arts of the entire devi e, that each and every element is accessible for manipulation and observation, a most important feature when it is considered that the related engine elements must be frequently tested by the engineer.

Having described my invention, I claim 1. In a device of: the character described, the combination with the axle box, box supporting pedestal, and horizontal yoke mem- Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner ber, of a vertically disposed wedge interposed between the box and pedestal and having a stem extending through and below the yoke member, a rod disposed in parallel relation to said wedge and mounted upon said pedestal, a spring serving to exert upward tension upon said rod, and means ,for coupling the stemto the rod.

2. In a device of the character described, the combination with the axle box, box supporting pedestal, and horizontal yoke member, of a vertically disposed wedge interposed between the box and pedestal and having a reduced lower perforated stem extending through and below the yoke memher, a rod supported by-said pedestal in parallel adjacent relation to said wedge,'a

spring serving to exert upward tension upon said rod, and said rod having a bent lower end connected to the perforated stem.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature.

JOHN B. 'WILSON. Witn'esses I V VOLNEY B. COX, H. WARDEN.

of Patents,

Washington, D. C. 

